Fort Pierce man accused of pinning woman to ground by her neck

ST. LUCIE COUNTY - A Fort Pierce man who allegedly twice knocked a woman to the ground and then held her there by the neck has been charged with domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Matthew Richard Basarich, 31, of the 6900 block of Cabana Lane, was being held Monday at the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, records show.

The attack happened after the two started to argue as they walked away from a store, according to a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.

The woman told deputies Basarich smashed his can of beer into the side of her neck, knocking her down. When she got up, he ran toward her and slammed into her, again knocking her down, the affidavit states. This time, he held her down by wrapping his hands around her neck until passers-by intervened, it states.

Basarich ran, but eventually returned home and was arrested, the affidavit states.